“It's my mode of transportation. It gets me to and from work. I'm a single parent and also transport my kids to and from games, practices, music lessons, it's the heart of our family I would say,” said Apodaca.

But when the Tahoe started acting up recently, Apodaca decided to take it somewhere for a diagnosis and an estimate to be repaired. And that's when she came across Advanced Transmissions and Emissions, which offered to tow Apodaca's Tahoe free of charge.

“It had free towing so I thought OK, well we'll take it in, get an estimate there and we'll take it to two other places.”

But Apodaca says she never had the chance to get other quotes because she says Advanced Transmissions and Emissions had reportedly repaired the vehicle without her approval.

“Next thing you know, two days later, the owner calls me and says the work's been done and I needed to go in and pick it up and it would be close to $2,000.”

Apodaca says she was shocked, because she says she never signed any kind of form authorizing repairs. She just wanted an estimate. Apodaca says she tried explaining the issue to the shop's owner, Greg Kaiser, but she says he didn't want to hear it.

“He says, I got a verbal. I said don't you need a signature? I said I can understand a verbal for an oil change but repairs $2,000, thousands of dollars and he said I've been to small claims court plenty of times, I know how this works, you'll have to pay me.”

3 On Your Side got involved and we spoke with Greg Kaiser the owner, over the phone.

Kaiser tells us someone with Apodaca's family gave him verbal authorization over the phone to repair the Tahoe. So, he fixed it. After a brief conversation, Kaiser then hung up.

Wanting more information, 3 On Your Side went to Advanced Transmissions and Emissions, but we were told Greg Kaiser wasn't around, so we left a business card with the receptionist and asked for Kaiser to call us back. But Kaiser never did call us back.

Apodaca isn't the only consumer who claims to have had similar problems with Advanced Transmissions and Emissions.

Gene McLaughlan tells 3 On Your Side that he recently took his car into the repair shop for what he was verbally told would be a $180 brake job. But when he went to pay the repair bill, McLaughlan said it was $586.

Gary Harper asked, “when he hands you the bill for $586 what was your reaction?”

McLaughlin: "I was dumbfounded, I was very upset,“ McLaughlan replied.

"What happened to $180", asked Gary Harper.

"You got me! I have no idea,” said McLaughlan.

For now, Apodaca is using a borrowed vehicle that she’ll have to return soon and tells 3 On Your Side that Greg Kaiser and his business won't return the vehicle until she pays $2,000 in cash.

It's money she says she just doesn't have and says she has no idea how she'll get her SUV back.

“He won't let the car go and he won't even discuss what type of work's been done. He wants the cash or the title and he'll release the car.”

If and when Apodaca gets her Tahoe back, 3 On Your Side will do a follow-up report.

After this news report initially aired, the owner of Advanced Transmissions and Emissions provided 3 On Your Side a company statement. In that statement, he claims 3 On Your Side and our viewer are not telling the truth. Click here to read Kaiser's statement in its entirety.

Editor's note: We have redacted sensitive identifying information and signatures from this document to protect the privacy of those involved.

Colleen Libby wanted to improve the looks of her aging driveway. So, she said it was kind of ironic that a guy claiming to run an epoxy business showed up and said he could make her driveway look brand new for $2,500. (Source: 3TV/CBS 5)

It was last February when 3 On Your Side aired a news report about a Valley homeowner, but since that report, a licensed and legitimate contractor was watching and wanted to do something special for someone he's never met.

It was last February when 3 On Your Side aired a news report about a Valley homeowner, but since that report, a licensed and legitimate contractor was watching and wanted to do something special for someone he's never met.

This Sept. 24, 2017, photo provided by Michael Kass shows Yann Arnaud during a Cirque du Soleil performance in Toronto. Arnaud died early Sunday, March 18, 2018, after falling while performing during a show on Saturday in Tampa, Fla. (Michael Kass via AP)

A Cirque du Soleil performer died Saturday night after he fell during a performance in Tampa, Florida.

A Cirque du Soleil performer died Saturday night after he fell during a performance in Tampa, Florida.

She then went on to Arizona State University. She graduated summa cum laude from the University’s prestigious, Walter Cronkite School of Journalism with a degree in Journalism/Mass Communications with an emphasis in broadcasting.

LiAna started her news career with KTVK-TV as an intern. She loved it so much she never left! She has been with the station for fourteen years. Currently, she is the consumer investigative producer for Arizona’s top rated consumer segment, 3 On Your Side and is also a general assignment reporter. LiAna also reported for the station’s top rated high school sports show, ‘The Varsity Zone’ for five years.

In her free time LiAna enjoys cooking, watching movies, quading, and traveling. But her absolute favorite thing to do, is to hang out with her husband and beautiful daughters. She is a softball mom. She loves the beach and waterfalls! Her favorite team is the Arizona Cardinals and of course, the Sun Devils.

Life motto: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)

All this March, Arizona's Family takes a raw look at the opioid crisis: The addicts, the devastated and the controversial ways some are trying to help. It doesn't discriminate whom and when it kills. Watch for this original content on the crisis that is impacting Arizona and the nation -- all this March on 3TV and CBS 5. [Opioid crisis in Arizona]

All this March, Arizona's Family takes a raw look at the opioid crisis: The addicts, the devastated and the controversial ways some are trying to help. It doesn't discriminate whom and when it kills. Watch for this original content on the crisis that is impacting Arizona and the nation -- all this March on 3TV and CBS 5. [Opioid crisis in Arizona]

With more than 20 years of television experience, Gary has established himself as a leader in the industry when it comes to assisting viewers and resolving their consumer-related issues. His passion and enthusiasm have helped him earn an Emmy for Best Consumer Reporter from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. He’s also garnered several Emmy nominations

He has negotiated resolutions with companies of all sizes, including some of the biggest corporations in the nation.

Gary has successfully recouped more than $1 million for viewers around the state, making 3 On Your Side one of the most popular segments on KTVK and the station's Web site.

He's best known for investigating and confronting unscrupulous contractors. In fact, many of his news reports have led to police investigations and jail time for those who were caught. Viewers, as well as the companies and people he investigates, regard him as consistently being thorough and fair.

Gary has been with KTVK-TV since 1997. Prior to his arrival in Phoenix, he worked for WZZM-TV in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he was as an anchor and reporter.

Gary is from Chicago, but launched his television career in Lubbock, Texas, after earning a broadcast journalism degree from Texas Tech University. Following his graduation, he was quickly hired by KLBK-TV in Lubbock, where he enterprised and broke numerous exclusive reports. His aggressive reporting in Texas helped garner him Best Reporter by the Associated Press.

Gary has been married since 1994 and is the proud father of two sons. When he's not helping viewers, Gary is busy catching up on his favorite college and professional football teams as well as cheering on his beloved Texas Tech Red Raiders.

An 8-year-old girl is in a medically-induced coma after suffering severe burns from a fire pit explosion in Phoenix. Neighbors are now rallying together to help raise money to help the family get through this rough time.

Cars go by the scene Monday, March 19, 2018, near where a pedestrian was stuck by an Uber vehicle in

The National Transportation Safety Board says it is sending a team to investigate a crash in which a self-driving Uber vehicle hit and killed a pedestrian as she crossed a Tempe street. Full story @ https://goo.gl/pzGvYH.

The National Transportation Safety Board says it is sending a team to investigate a crash in which a self-driving Uber vehicle hit and killed a pedestrian as she crossed a Tempe street. Full story @ https://goo.gl/pzGvYH.